Mooney on Irish Politics

There are no election predictions in this podcast as many voters have yet to decide - instead I focus on what to watch out for as we enter the last week of campaigning. I look at how party leaders will try to manage expectations, especially around seat losses and failed gains... but above all I stress that this is NOT a mid term election - the next general election is 9 months away, at most, and c...

In this episode I return to a topic I have discussed many times - Irish Defence. Though there are some signs that things may be about to improve, the pace is no where near fast enough as the Minister responsible is more pre-occupied with positioning and messaging, than on tackling the real problems. There is also an article to accompany this podcast.

In this episode I analyze and examine the recent Árd Fheis speeches of Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD and [now] Taoiseach Simon Harris TD... and am not overly impressed by either, as pieces of political communications. There is a text version to accompany this podcast

In this episode I ask why does the nation's business have to go on hold for another 12 days while Fine Gael struggles with who/what it stand for? I also comment briefly on the circumstances of the resignation of Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as DUP leader. Read the column on which this podcast is largely based.

Leo Varadkar's resignation as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader has thrown Irish politics into turmoil... things will not just continue as they were... and the other government coalition parties need to grasp this reality... fast. This podcast is based on this recent column

Having critiqued the Tánaiste's party leader speech last week, I now turn my sights on the Sinn Féin leaders speech. As a piece of writing, a piece of political communications, Mary Lou McDonald's speech was far better than those of the Taoiseach or Tánaiste... but style is one thing, substance is another. While the core message was change... how that change would be achieved was left unde...

In this episode I critique An Tánaiste Micheál Martin's 2023 Árd Fheis speech as a speech, a performance, and as a piece of political communication and it scores a "must do better" on all three criteria. You can read the original column on which this podcast is based: here

This episode is about the various "tells" from government parties which point to the binary narrative that Leo Varadkar plans to apply to the next election. There is a blogpost to accompany this podcast, it will be available later today.

A little later than planned... here is my Summer 2023 political reading list (plus a short supplemental list). The 8 books on my core list look at Irish, EU and global politics. The two lists (core and alternatives) contain several biographies as well as polemics on key issues. You can read the accompanying blogpost at: https://derekmooney.ie/2023/08/12/my-summer-2023-political-reading-list/

In this episode I consider Sinn Féin's performance in the opinion polls over the past year and conclude that while it will be the biggest single party in the next Dáil, I believe the most likely outcome of that election will be another election. This podcast is based on this recent column: https://derekmooney.ie/2023/07/17/is-sinn-fein-flatlining-from-its-known-knowns/ . I also pay a small per...

This impromptu (i.e. unscripted) podcast is my response to the controversy prompted by today's Sunday Business Post interview by President Michael D Higgins. This is not intended as a "hot take" or an effort to stoke the flames. I genuinely believe both the President and the Tánaiste are in the wrong - and that the focus of both should be on implementing the Commission on the Defence...

In this episode I take the latest Irish Times/ Ipsos opinion poll as my starting point. I look at the numbers and then discuss the likelihood that the next Dáil will have 18 extra TDs... and wonder how many will be FF or FG-ers... based on the poll and the behaviour of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, I doubt that many will. There will be a written article (with URL links etc) to accompany this podcast

Welcome to my first podcast in several weeks, in this episode I consider the penchant of both main parties in government to pursue policies that make it difficult for their supporters to stick with them... This podcast is based on my recent column:

While it may be fleeting, the SocDems poll bounce is a reminder that Fianna Fáil’s persistently poor poll ratings since 2019 have not happened despite Micheal Martin, they are a direct consequence of decisions he made as leader. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://derekmooney.ie/2023/03/06/because-leadership-matters-socdems-poll-bounce-is-about-more-than-just-a-new-leader/

In my first podcast of 2023 (apologies for the delay) I look back at the first few weeks of the Donohoe #Postergate saga and explore how Fine Gael has taken the old political dictum: when you are explaining, you are losing, and turned it on its head. Though they may feel it is working in the short-term… I believe that in the longer term, it will not.  This episode is also available as a blog...

In this podcast episode I discuss the principal factors a party leader should consider when contemplating a mid-term reshuffle. I manage - almost - to refrain from engaging in speculation about who may be in or out next Saturday… or next week when the junior ministries are announced.  This episode is also available as a blog post: http://derekmooney.ie/2022/12/15/the-perils-of-the-mid-term-re...

Small wonder Fine Gael would rather have some pie-in-the-sky discussion on the triple lock than discuss the realities of their political neglect of defence. It’s a political three card trick from the party that brought us the triple lock, treble flip-flop. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://derekmooney.ie/2022/11/25/fine-gaels-triple-lock-three-card-trick/

In this episode I draw together a range of recent political moves and manoeuvres in an attempt to find a path back to viability for Fianna Fáil. It's a struggle... as the party's problems date back to 2018 and beyond. It is just possible... but it will requires new leadership from Fianna Fáil and a serious drive to reconnect with its lost working class base.  This week's podcast is not based...

In this episode I take “compare and contrast” look at the recent party leader speeches of Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon MSP and An Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Micheal Martin, T.D. - and conclude that Sturgeon comes out much better. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://derekmooney.ie/2022/10/18/a-timely-tale-of-two-speeches/

My observations and comments on the lead story in last week’s Belfast Telegraph which says that the three year long political partnership between the SDLP and Fianna Fáil has come to an end.

I am pleased present tis year's Summer Political reading list - my sixth one since 2017. This episode is also available as a written blog with links to all the books mentioned: http://derekmooney.ie/2022/07/25/derek-mooneys-summer-2022-political-reading-list/

This episode is based on two recent blog posts. Both addressed ongoing issues in Fianna Fáil, while one looked at the plans to increase defence investment and the other looks at the history of Programme for Government reviews and concludes that they are a good thing:  http://derekmooney.ie/2022/07/15/fianna-fail-looks-defenceless-in-government-while-increasing-defence-investment/ and  ht...

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://derekmooney.ie/2022/06/23/heres-an-appalling-vista-a-politics-dominated-by-sinn-fein-and-fine-gael/

If you haven't already checked out the Here's How podcast, then listen to this highly rated episode from a few years back and check out the series at https://blog.hereshow.ie/ or searchs for "Here's How" on your favourite Podcast host.

In this episode I revisit the three Fianna Fáil truths which I set out exactly two years ago (in June 2020). This episode is also available as a blog post: http://derekmooney.ie/2022/06/14/goodbye-to-broadsheet-and-hello-to-cuckoo-clocks-and-the-3-fianna-fail-truths-i-set-out-2-years-ago/